Chapter 312: Ball-serving Machine
Snap. Snap.
Gao Wen was highly focused, this game was obviously different from any other game.
On the one hand, it’s the feeling from the Grand Slam.
The sense of space in the entire Arthur Ashe Stadium is completely different, and even the feel of hitting the ball and the pace of movement need to be adjusted. Especially today, the stadium was not full, and it seemed that less than one-fifth of the seats were occupied, which further enhanced the sense of emptiness of the stadium. Even the sound of hitting the ball was different.
Everything was new and unfamiliar to Gawain, and he needed time to adapt.
On the one hand, there is pressure from Isner.
Isner's entire match rhythm was quite fast. Not only did he end the battle with aces coming one after another, the connection between points was also very fast. His whole body revealed a sense of ease, which made the game process always in a high-speed state, as if he was thrown into a dryer.
There was not much room for Gao Wen to breathe and adjust.
Since the start of the game, there have not been many rounds of balls.
The biggest difference from usual was that Gawain needed time to adapt to the venue and the atmosphere, so he had no time to launch a test in Isner's serve. The lack of experience made Gawain passively involved in Isner's game rhythm.
Gao Wen strategically focused more on his serve.
Keep in mind that when facing Isner, losing a serve may mean losing a set. Only by keeping your serve can you create more possibilities.
Similarly, Isner's game strategy has always been to steadily consolidate his own serve. As for his opponent's serve, he tries to continue some rounds to see if he can find opportunities.
If he can't find it, he won't change his tactics to look for other possibilities. He just needs to keep his serve and then enter the tie-break.
Isner's games always involve tiebreaks; that's his style of play.
It is precisely because of this that the game has been uneventful so far, with neither player able to find any opportunities in the other's serve.
During the break between games, Gao Wen calmed down and thought carefully. He realized that he was still too conservative.
Originally, he was the challenger who initiated the attack. If he did not take the initiative to break the balance, both sides would have kept their serve and entered the tiebreak. At that time, Isner's experience and strength would have easily given him the upper hand.
Just look at Isner's leisurely stroll and you will know that he is very satisfied with the progress of the game.
Moreover, from the start till now, he has not played his own style of play at all.
Although he saved all three service games, his shot hitting was quite standard. In addition, Isner did not pester him relentlessly and the rounds did not get into a stalemate, so he saved the game quite standardly. There was no trace of any line changes, adjustments or other tricks.
If this continues, he will definitely not stand a chance.
If he wants to defeat Isner, he should at least form a confrontation. He should try to disrupt Isner's rhythm, seek to control the initiative back and forth, break Isner's comfort zone, and force Isner to become confused.
Stand on tiptoe, bend your knees, push off the ground, and jump.
Gao Wen watched Isner's serve intently, his knees bouncing lightly on the spot like springs, keeping his center of gravity active.
Then you can see Isner——
Throw the ball, push off the ground, turn around, and hit the ball.
Isner's height of 208 cm gives him an innate advantage in serving, so his knee bending movement has always been incomplete, and it is difficult for him to squat down when hitting the ball.
But compared to the 2.11-cm-tall Karlovic, Isner's center of gravity control is actually excellent.
Bang! Outside corner!
Gawain's knees suddenly straightened, and the power of his calves pushed his body sideways, with his arms and upper body fully stretched out.
Correct judgment!
However, he still couldn't catch up! 132 miles per hour - the US Open still uses the imperial system, which is equivalent to 211 kilometers per hour. Isner didn't seem to be struggling at all, and he easily served at a speed of more than 200 kilometers per hour.
Even if Gao Wen's judgment is correct, if he hesitates a little bit at the moment of prediction, he may miss it. Either he misses the hitting point and hits the ball directly, or he simply misses the shot and results in an ace.
“15:0”.
Gawain lightly stepped twice. If he had started a little faster, he should have been able to hit the target.
Then, ACE, 130 mph.
"30:0".
Then, the serve went straight in at 135 mph.
"40:0".
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In a blink of an eye, it was just a matter of three serves, and Isner still got three consecutive game points, all relying on serves to resolve the battle, and there was no intention of giving Gawain a return ball.
Moreover, look at the combination of serve speed and landing angle, stable and strong, this is Isner's ability - when he is in the best condition, he can maintain this state for a whole set, two consecutive sets.
It's simply a serving machine.
Maintaining high efficiency, high energy and high intensity in serving throughout the whole process really makes people feel powerless.
call……
Gawain exhaled lightly, signaling himself to stay calm.
Since the ACE record began to be kept in 1991, until 2021, the player with the most career ACEs is Croatian player Karlovic, with a total of 13,709.
The second place is Isner, with 13,004 ACEs.
Behind them are Federer, Feliciano-Lopez and Querrey, and the top four have all achieved more than 10,000 aces in their careers.
In other words, Isner is one of the best servers in history, and may even be the best in history.
So, he needs to stay calm——
Although I understand the reason, I still feel a little different standing on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. I can't help wanting to perform better, but how can I perform if I can't even receive the serve? What if Isner serves like this every time, without even a chance to touch the ball? Unconsciously, I feel a little impatient.
It wasn't just Gao Wen who was worried. The two commentators in the live broadcast room were also extremely anxious, but they still tried their best to calm down and maintain an objective stance.
"...This is Isner. He has this ability. He hit four aces in one game and won it in just one minute. He didn't give his opponent any chance. Gao Wen needs to learn to accept this fact, and then focus on his own serve and patiently look for opportunities."
"Yes, Gawain needs to stay focused. Isner's serve is indeed very good and very powerful, but there is a solution. He should learn from Djokovic or Murray's games. Patience and concentration are opportunities to lay the foundation for the entire game."
Both commentators tried to give Gawain advice, but facing a serve machine like Isner, patience is really the only rule, there is no other way.
The question is, Gawain is so young and this is his first time playing in a Grand Slam, can he remain patient and focused? (End of this chapter)